Tirupati and Vizag zoos begin special sanitation drive

Metro India News | VIJAYAWADA|TIRUPATI

Zoos are more than places where visitors come to see wildlife. They are living conservation spaces where animal health, biodiversity and environmental management are closely interconnected. Recognising this, special sanitation drives have been launched at the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park in Tirupati and the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam, following the directions of Minister for Forests, Environment, Science and Technology Pawan Kalyan.

The initiative seeks to create cleaner, greener and healthier zoo environments while improving the experience of visitors. Zoo authorities have begun focused sanitation activities across animal enclosures, visitor pathways, gardens, water bodies, resting areas, feeding points and waste collection zones. Particular attention is being given to waste segregation, removal of plastic waste, maintenance of greenery and strengthening overall sanitation standards. The emphasis is not simply on making the zoos visually cleaner, but on creating an environment conducive to the health and well-being of captive wildlife.

Visakhapatnam Zoo has also recorded a notable development in its conservation efforts. Using advanced incubation techniques, the zoo has recently facilitated the birth of 128 new animals, further highlighting the importance of maintaining appropriate and healthy habitats for breeding and conservation. The latest initiative also seeks to build wider public participation in wildlife conservation. Pawan Kalyan has appealed to corporate organisations, industrialists, voluntary organisations and members of the public to come forward and adopt animals at both the Visakhapatnam and Tirupati zoos.

Animal adoption programs can provide valuable support for the upkeep and welfare of zoo residents while creating a stronger connection between citizens and wildlife conservation. The sanitation drive therefore represents a broader vision: cleaner zoo campuses, healthier animals and greater public ownership of conservation. The message is clear, protecting wildlife is not the responsibility of forest departments and zoo authorities alone, but a shared responsibility of society.